Congrats to Cam Zink, an old guy (24!) with a lot of metal in his body, who pulled off the first-ever “Slopestyle Slam” by winning (the return of) the Red Bull Rampage after taking home gold at the Kokanee Crankworx in Whistler in August. Zink also won Red Bull’s best trick comp. This is the equivalent to baseball’s Triple Crown and tennis’ Grand Slam, winning the top titles in the same season. Zink won Rampage with a 360 off the monster ramp. The drop itself was intimidating, but pulling a 360 (full rotation) at that height requires precision timing and contact control. Interestingly, the progenitor of the Big Drop 360, Darren Berrecloth, finished third despite a trick 3 of his own.

]]>http://bikeintelligencer.com/2010/10/cam-zink-wins-return-of-red-bull-rampage/feed/04572Continued Thoughts on Crankworx Slopestyle Judginghttp://bikeintelligencer.com/2010/08/continued-thoughts-on-crankworx-slopestyle-judging/
http://bikeintelligencer.com/2010/08/continued-thoughts-on-crankworx-slopestyle-judging/#commentsThu, 19 Aug 2010 18:17:44 +0000http://bikeintelligencer.com/?p=4251Slopestyle competition could be made a lot more exciting by a different approach to judging.

]]>Taking nothing away from Cam Zink, his winning ride video at Whistler’s Kokanee Crankworx shows that the most significant factor in slopestyle judging has to do with staying on the bike. The good part of this is that riders who finish out rather than go too big ultimately get rewarded. The bad part is that it discourages riders from going big.

A possible partial solution: If you weight points on tricks attempted, even if they fail, Slopestyle judging might prove a bit more exciting and the results a lot closer. Both competitors and fans would benefit from that.

]]>Bad news from Crankworx Colorado: Longtime Big Air commando Cam McCaul, leader of the Aptos Bandidos, crashed on a front flip trick and snapped his femur in two. Talking to PinkBike, Cam is in his usual high spirits. As well he should be: The guy could’ve been paralyzed for life. We’ll miss him at Whistler Crankworx but hope to see him back on the trails around Nisene Marks next spring.

Good news from Crankworx Colorado was that Seattle homey Jill Kintner took top honors in the Dual Slalom and the Downhill. At Whistler, however, Jill got off to an uncharacteristic start, taking “only” 3rd in the opening-day Dual Slalom. On her blog she complains of being “off my game,” but watch for her in the other Whistler events!

Intriguing story from Cyclelicious on military funding of blood doping research. Well worth a read.

Normally a time trial, where lots of riders are on the road at the same time and it’s obvious an event is under way, is the last place you’d expect a car to strike and kill a cyclist. But when it comes to cars and bike, expectations count for very little.

VeloNews interviews Johan Bruyneel on Team Radio Shack’s Tour de France and outllook. Two questions we wished they had asked: Does he think doping allegations had anything to do with being dis-invited from the Tour of Spain, and without Lance, what are his expectations for next year’s Tour?